Tiny Maltese Soshe had been trapped alone in her house for more than a week. No food. No clean water. The sofa on which she floated wass all that was keeping her alive.

Video via: Animalkind

The little dog was one of many victims awaiting rescue in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, which ravaged residents of North Carolina. So many animals were stranded, in fact, that the local rescuers called in help. It was a team from the Humane Society of Missouri’s Disaster Response who wound up saving the day for little Soshe.

In some places, floodwaters were at roof level and the team had to make multiple attempts to reach the home where a dog (Soshe) was stranded inside. On their third attempt, the boat broke down, but they didn’t give up, paddling more than a half-mile to the flood-addled neighborhood. After finally locating the right address, rescuers could see Soshe inside, floating on the couch, but as the water had caused the wood to swell and the water on both sides created pressure, they found it difficult to open the door.

That didn’t stop them, either, though; they kicked it in and rescued the frightened and hungry little pup. Soshe was too scared to swim to them, and likely exhausted. She’d been alone without food for a week.

Once safe in with her rescuers, she was cheery and otherwise okay, happily scarfing down her first meal since the hurricane. Later, a friend of her owner (who was stuck out of town when Hurricane Florence rolled into the area) showed at the temporary animal shelter to claim her.

“She was distraught that she couldn’t get to her house and knew that Soshe was inside,” said the woman who picked up Soshe. She will reunite the dog with her owner.

Soshe was one of several dogs, chickens and horses rescued by HSMO’s Disaster Response Team following Hurricane Florence. The nine-member team headed back to Missouri on Tuesday after a 10-day deployment.

Anyone interested in helping pets affected by Hurricane Florence can donate online here or by calling (314) 951-1542.

Because baby, it gets COLD outside in Indiana!

When Darius Smith, wife, Danielle and their Doberman, King, moved from Las Vegas to Indianapolis, they were left with zero options for outside play and exercise in the wintertime.

“When we moved here, we didn’t know what to do with our dog in the winter and couldn’t find a place to take him to play,” Smith told the Indy Channel.

The hunt for indoor options came up way short. Outside of doggy day care businesses – where you drop off your dog and it can cost up to $30 per day – there was nothing.

And so, the idea for Indy’s Indoor Bark Park was born.

In fact, if you live in the area, its planners want to meet you and tell you all about the park – which is slated to open in December in the Castleton, IN, area. Its actual location will be announced at the “Pre-Launch Pawty” this Saturday, October 20, at Metazoa Brewing Company in downtown Indianapolis.

At the event, attendees will learn about their crowdfunding efforts and opening information, and will have the opportunity to win free day passes and monthly memberships. Guests must be 21 years or older to attend this event at Metazoa. Dogs are welcome to attend the event as well. The park will welcome dogs of all breeds and sizes — and their owners, of course!

“Our mission is to give the Indianapolis dog-loving community a place to live out the word ‘community,’” Smith said.

Indy’s Indoor Dog Park, says Smith, has already set up partnerships with local dog companies, as well as other local businesses to make the indoor dog park more than just a park to play. These partnerships include City Dogs Grocery, Pet Wants, and Open Field Photography. Smith plans to have services to buy local, fresh, and organic dog food products at the park, as well as opportunities for dog owners to purchase local craft beer while their dog plays.

“We will be announcing crowdfunding opportunities to help raise money for the opening and for texturing the floor of the facility,” Smith said.

Smith emphasized that Indy’s Indoor Bark Park is not a doggy daycare. Dogs must be accompanied by a human owner while at the park.

There are several membership options and day passes available for purchase. That information as well as other upcoming events can be found on Indy’s Indoor Bark Park website.

Want to learn more?
Follow Indy’s Indoor Bark Park on Facebook…
on Twitter…
on Instagram!

We look forward to following up with a great article about opening day (and would love to see an idea like this catch fire elsewhere), in communities both hot and cold!

12-year-old Corey Allenby suffers with a genetic disorder called Retinitis Pigmentosa, in which the retinal cells at the back of the eye die.

Registered as partially blind, his sight has deteriorated to such an extent that he now has no peripheral vision and complete night blindness where he can no longer see after the daylight fades.

Undaunted, he’s been training at skills that will become essential as his vision continues to deteriorate: he’s mastered Level 5 braille and has been trained in using a cane. He also is working with buddy dogs from Guide Dogs for the Blind, an experience that inspired him to raise money for their cause.

Allenby was so impressed with the dogs – with their intelligence and the training that has changed the lives of his fellow visually impaired all across the U.K. – that he decided to help, staging all sorts of events with the help of family and friends.

Most recently, Corey – who attends the John Whitgift Academy in Grimsby – arranged for a special “Fun Day” which included a sponsored walk. His sister, Lola, took part in a similar charity dance-a-thon.

Together, they raised more than £2,866 (That’s $3,760 U.S.!) which will go to the guide dog charity.

“I am so pleased that we have managed to raise so much money for this amazing charity,” he told the Grimsby Telegraph. “It was a lot of work putting everything together, but my family, friends and even my school have been amazing in supporting me in everything that I have done.

“Nearly all of my teachers came down to the Fun Day to offer their support, which was amazing, and hopefully we will be able to make a difference in the lives of those who have lost or are losing their vision.”

The funds raised will be used to provide training for a young trainee guide dog; Corey will be able to keep track of the pup through updates of its progress.

Amy Petterson, community fundraiser for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association said: “The work that Corey has done is just fantastic and to raise such a large amount of money for us is a brilliant achievement.”

Corey’s work raising money for the guide dog charity is not the only way in which the young man has been helping others with visual impairments.

His mother, Rebecca Fytche, helped him set up a Facebook page: Seeing Through My Eyes By Corey Allenby. Now, via social media, Allenby speaks to the parents of children all around the world who have a similar condition, people with questions, who want to know what to expect.

It is estimated that Retinitis Pigmentosa, a genetic condition, affects one in every 4,000 people.

Followers on his page had many kind words for the inspirational tween following his Fun Day event – and he did for them, as well.

“I just want to say a massive THANK YOU to everyone who helped in every moment of the event everyone who has participated you have helped lots of people and helped me so much and you guys have serious changed my life thank you everyone can’t wait for next year.”

Check out his page, and that of Guide Dogs for the Blind for more information or to help fund the cause.

When the architects at Studio Schickentanz undertook their latest project, they thought about how sustainability could fit into the picture … from a dog’s point of view.

Their canine cottage is high-design, a timber structure with an angled roof that boasts forward-thinking eco-friendliness!

The inside of the pint-sized house boasts a built-in floor drain and a solar-powered fan that keeps its canine occupant super comfortable on the hottest days. On the exterior, an easy-to-grip grassy ramp takes its pup resident to a green roof where a cool, motion-activated water fountain — it’s connected to an irrigation system! — ensures that no water is wasted.

Besides all the newfangled features, the house is stylish beyond belief! Built from wide, timber planks with a simple-but-impressive angled design, small windows allow natural light in and — because it’s still a dog house, after all — there’s a hidden drawer in which food and treats and toys can be kept

Why all the fuss over a dog house? This is one of several entries in the Carmel Canine Cottages Competition. Each of the entrants will be auctioned off – and all proceeds will go to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

A word about dog houses….

First off, we at LWD believe that dogs are INDOOR PETS! That said, it’s lovely when Fido can spend time enjoying fresh air out in the yard and if your pup enjoys him or herself out there, having a dog house can make that experience nicer by offering shade and shelter (or, in the case of some huskies we know, a snowy roof on which to happily nap in wintertime!). Here are some tips on what to think about when selecting a dog house for your pet:

-Does it have enough room? Your dog should be able to stand up, move around, and have access to water.
-Elevation, just slightly off the ground, can keep the house cooler in warmer weather and warmer when the ground is frozen.
-Light colors: these reflect sun and therefore heat, keeping the structure more comfortable.

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It doesn’t matter how much you’ve seen while working in dog rescue. No one could get used to this level of cruelty. That said, the shepherd-rottweiler mix Detroit Dog Rescue volunteers have named Courage is now safe and getting the care and love he needs.

The 3-year-old dog was discovered by Detroit Animal Control officers. He was gravely injured, his neck infected from the metal carabiner piercing his flesh. He was weighed down by a 15-pound tow chain.

“This isn’t something we normally see on the street — just carelessness for life,” Kristina Rinaldi, executive director of Detroit Dog Rescue, told FOX2 reporters after the organization took over the dog’s care on Monday. “It’s horrific.”

Authorities are investigating to find out who’s responsible; they hope to be able to press charges. In the meantime, Courage — so named for his sweetness and resilience in the face of such an ordeal, will recover. DDR is looking for a special foster who’s up to the task.

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“This needs to be a home with no children or other animals so he can decompress and we can care for him,” Rinaldi said Tuesday. “DDR will provide food and medical care. We just need someone to provide a loving home.”

Courage was rushed to Oakland Veterinary Referral Services in Bloomfield Hills. His necrotic tissue and heartworm were treated. Medical staff estimated Courage had been pinned for at least several weeks, Rinaldi said. “He was suffering in the cold, basically chained down with a metal piercing in his neck.”

Despite all, his personality shines.

“He is about the sweetest dog you will ever meet,” Rinaldi said. “He’s very happy. He came to us wagging his little nub of a tail and was very grateful someone rescued him. He’s warm and friendly with every doctor. He just has so much courage to go through this and come out on top with his personality like he does.”

Courage will need roughly six months of medical fostering before being permanently adopted. DDR was seeking $6,000 to cover his vet bills but on Tuesday, Bissell Pet Foundation offered to cover the treatment, Rinaldi said. However, “if anybody wants to donate, that money is going to go to any legal action on Courage’s behalf.”

To donate, visit Detroit Dog Rescue’s website.